September 6th - Unintentional Iniquities

Unintentional Iniquities

(Ezekiel 44:4-31; 45:1-25; 46:1-24; 47:1-23; 48:1-35)

I’m Sorry

Artist Unknown

Have you ever had to apologize for a wrong you never meant to commit? Has anyone ever been offended by something you said or did, when you actually intended no harm at all?

Perhaps you have been on the other side of the equation.

Has anyone ever wronged you by mistake? Inadvertent insults, unintended injuries and unmeant mishaps can wreak havoc on relationships – particularly if we do not know that we have offended someone. These big “Oops” moments can create opposition before we even are aware that a conflict may exist.

Is it possible to sin unintentionally against the Lord?

In today’s daily Bible readings, the Old Testament prophet spoke of the Lord’s instructions for cleansing the temple of God (and His people) from unintentional and unwitting evils):

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

‘In the first month on the first day you are to take a young bull without defect and purify the sanctuary. The priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the upper ledge of the altar and on the gateposts of the inner court. You are to do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins unintentionally or through ignorance; so you are to make atonement for the temple.’”

(Ezekiel 45:18-20, NIV, emphasis added)

Clearly, it is possible for us to fail to follow God’s guidelines and to offend His holiness by mistake. Perhaps not all sin is intentional. Anything that falls short of the Lord’s perfection may be a failing.

Thanks be to God that He covers our sins with His own cleansing blood! For who could stand in His Presence without the righteousness that He Himself has purchased for us?

Will you pray with me?

Great and gracious God,

We are humbled to be called Your own.

Search our hearts

And our thoughts

And our words

And our deeds.

Reveal to us

Where we have sinned,

Even where we have sinned

Without meaning to do so.

Call us to confess

And repent

And be reconciled to You

Through Your own Son’s sacrifice

For us.

Thank you for Your great grace.

Make us holy,

Even as You are holy.

Amen.